Reader of the Week: Diane Naegel

Designer and Founder of Scarf Line, Lulette

By Lindsey Underwood
Published: July 6th, 2009 | 1:45am

Many of us have picked up knitting once or twice in our lives. Scarves are often the first thing aspiring knitters pursue, but Reader of The Week, Diane Naegel, founded a line of handmade scarves and knits called Lulette with unique designs and patterns that take the game to the next level. Lulette has been a great success for the fashion school grad, but this busy lady does more than that. Check out her interview with VZ where she told us about her love of the NYC burlesque scene, watching bootlegged DVDs, and her favorite scarf design.

Where do you live? What is your favorite thing about living there?

I live right outside of Manhattan in Astoria, NY. Queens! My favorite things about living in Astoria is that it has the best variety of food and restaurants in a very small area, a shop that sells new old stock lingerie from the early 60s, and real thrift stores with real thrift store prices which are almost impossible to find in NYC!

What do you like to do when you have time off?

I run a monthly 1920s/1930s event here in NYC called Wit’s End (clubwitsend.com)! On the last Saturday of the month, we dress in our best vintage evening attire, drink cocktails of the era, eat handmade chocolates, and dance the night away to live hot jazz and ragtime tunes. Everyone gets really excited to attend, plans their outfits, and the music really makes you want to get out on the floor! I’m also out and about in the NYC burlesque world quite a bit, and am crazy about vintage and antique Halloween ephemera and owls.

Tell us about your line, Lulette.

I started Lulette (lulette.com) in 2003 when I graduated from fashion school. To be honest, I really didn’t know whether I wanted to do corporate design or what, but I did have a knitting machine and an idea! My dad really encouraged me to start it. My goal was to learn how to run an entire business from top to bottom and keep my clients happy.

How long have you been knitting?

I learned how to hand knit a little bit as a kid from my grandma, but I learned how to machine knit about 7 years ago.

How long does it take to finish one scarf?

From pattern to finished product, about an hour and a half.

Do you knit some yourself?

I used to knit them all myself in my apartment in Cincinnati, my hometown. It was crazy — all day and all night knitting on my machine and pressing, packing, and shipping scarves! My apartment I had in the East Village here in NYC had no room for something like a knitting machine, so I haven’t made them myself since I moved here. Just the patterns!

How do you get inspiration for designs?

I work a day job in children’s accessory design, so I’m always exposed to super cute things; that helps a lot! And I'm always inspired by dialogue between my friends and I — some pretty insane things pop up there.

What is your favorite design or phrase that you've ever put on a scarf?

I have to say I do really like the ‘go nuts’ acorn scarf. Autumn is my favorite season of the year by far, but I made myself one that read “I <3 Teen Angst” after watching my bootlegged DVDs of My So-Called Life. I also knitted one for a school project that was about a foot wide and 14 feet long- kind of a crazy Dr Who patchwork jumble scarf— and I still just adore it!

What is the worst job that you’ve ever had?

I used to clean stalls at the stable where I boarded my horse in high school. I would work money off of my board — in the summer that one really stinks, pun intended.

What was your favorite song as a child?

I grew up mostly on the oldies station in the car with my parents and my favorite was “And Then He Kissed Me” by the Crystals.

What was the last song you sang during a karaoke session?

Crap. I was afraid you’d ask this! Let’s see, it was probably the theme song to the Fresh Prince of Bel- Air.

Have you ever won a contest? If so, what did you win?

I have! I won the D.A.R.E. essay contest when I was in kindergarten or first grade, and I won a tee shirt and a trip to Chuck E Cheese’s. Then when I graduated from fashion school, Saks Fifth Avenue gave me their award for Outstanding Senior Collection. That one didn’t come with a pizza party, though.